2011 Mercedes-Benz AMG Gear Debuts

STUTTGART, Germany — If a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is too out of reach at $183,000, there's a more affordable way to tap into the cachet of the German automaker's high-performance AMG sub-brand. The 2011 Mercedes-Benz AMG accessories line was unveiled on Friday, with a carbon-fiber theme and an eye toward cleanliness.

The accessories line, which features everything from T-shirts with "bacteria-inhibiting carbon fibers" to fancy luggage, can be seen at eMercedesbenz.com. Pricing has not been released yet.

Think of the line, which includes model cars of the SLS AMG, as a Germanic, high-end answer to Chrysler's controversial and more blue-collar "Imported from Detroit" clothing line. A Detroit judge in June ruled that Chrysler could not stop a T-shirt maker from using the "Imported from Detroit" slogan made popular in a now-legendary Super Bowl ad featuring the rapper Eminem.

The new Mercedes-Benz AMG line taps into the zeitgeist of the Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG and CL65 AMG. Much of the gear features the diamond embroidery found on the interior of those cars. Some of the items are handmade in Germany, said parent Daimler in a statement.

Inside Line says: Classy, maybe. But it seems like too much of a Walmart way into the AMG brand.